Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cockett, Charles S 1835 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 6, 2007, 2:55 pm

Author: Portrait & Bios Album, 1890

CHARLES S. COCKETT, late Secretary of the Ashley Wire Company, departed this 
life at his home in Joliet, September 20, 1888, at the age of fifty-three 
years, having been born March 3, 1835. His native place was Kirkland, Oneida 
County, N. Y. and his father was Thomas Cockett, who was of English descent 
and spent his last years in New York. The paternal grandfather settled on the 
Susquehanna River at an early day and built a number of mills in that 
vicinity, where it is probable he spent the remainder of his life. He was a 
skilled workman and successful man and became prominently known throughout 
that region. The subject of this notice grew to mature years in his native 
county and obtained a good education, completing his studies in one of the 
schools of Cooperstown, Otsego County. For several years thereafter he 
occupied himself in the mercantile business in the store of his uncle at 
Cooperstown. Then leaving his native State he emigrated to Decatur, Mich., and 
engaged in the insurance and express business until after the outbreak of the 
Civil War. Determining then to have a hand in the preservation of the Union, 
he enlisted in Company B, this being assigned to a regiment of Michigan 
Infantry, and which later became a part of the Excelsior Brigade of New York 
State. He served nearly four years, engaging in many important battles and 
receiving an honorable wound at the battle of Williamsburg. He was mustered 
out after the close of the war and received an honorable discharge. On account 
of having contracted a severe cold from the effects of which he was unable to 
entirely recover, he was given the post of Commissary Sergeant, which he held 
most of the time during his army life. Upon leaving the service Mr.Coekett 
returned to Decatur, Mich., and resumed operations in the insurance and 
express business which he conducted successfully for some years. On the 10th 
of April, 1867, he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Mary J. Smith, 
and made his home in Decatur until 1875. In the year above mentioned, Mr. 
Cockett disposed of his business interests in Michigan, and coming to Joliet, 
began dealing in grain and was thus occupied for two years. At the expiration 
of this time he became connected with Messrs. H. B. Scott & Co., manufacturers 
of barb wire, and when the Ashley Wire Works was organized he was made the 
Secretary and held this position until his death. He was a capable and 
reliable business man and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellow-
citizens. Mrs. Mary J. (Smith) Cockett was born June 8, 1839, in New Lyme, 
Ashtabula County, Ohio, and is the daughter of H. B. and Mary (Clapp) Smith. 
Mr. Smith removed from Trumbull County, Ohio, to Benton Harbor, where his 
death took place. Mrs. Smith died June 20, 1839, a few days after the birth of 
her daughter. Mr. Smith lived until his daughter had reached womanhood. Mary 
remained a member of the household until her marriage, which resulted in the 
birth of one child only, a son, Bret Harte, who was born March 16, 1871, at 
Decatur, Mich., and remains at home with his mother. Both mother and son are 
members in good standing of the Central Presbyterian Church. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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